Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Promotional Products

When it comes to expanding on your existing client base, custom promotional products are always a good decision. Whether you’re passing out custom coffee mugs at your front desk or offering promotional tote bags on the street, giving away free gifts is a great way to show potential customers that you’re an involved and friendly member of the community. However, not all promotional items are created equal – something to keep in mind when you’re purchasing items for your customers.

Not sure what’s kosher and what isn’t in terms of customer gifts? Here are a few mistakes that your business should avoid when planning your promotional products.

Child safety hazards

Giving away toys like stuffed animals or beach balls to children is a great way to connect with families in your area, but it’s important to use common sense when deciding which playthings to offer. Child safety is a major consideration to keep in mind, so avoid purchasing any items that have small parts that could easily be swallowed by a little one. Sticking with larger, simple toys like frisbees or beach shovels is a less risky option.

Hygienic products

There’s nothing wrong with offering floss, toothpaste or toothbrushes to your clients – especially if you’re trying to promote good health practices. However, the majority of hygienic products could easily be misconstrued as insulting or distasteful by potential customers, so you may want to avoid this category entirely unless you operate a dentist or doctor’s office.

Political messages

Politics can be a tricky line to walk when it comes to promotional products. Spreading the word about the election, encouraging customers to exercise their right to vote and showing pride in the USA is fine, but stay away from directly supporting one political candidate over another. This can alienate a large chunk of potential customers.

Religious items

As the holiday season approaches, you might want to offer promotional items like toy Santa Clauses, dreidels or gingerbread cookies. However, you should avoid offering anything that’s too explicitly religious, as chances are there are people in your community who are from a variety of faiths. Instead, try to stick with more secular representations to help people get into the holiday and seasonal spirit. For instance, chocolate bunnies are great for Easter while chocolate coins are perfect for Hanukkah.